Adrian Proszenko Chief Rugby League ReporterParramatta has publicly declared its interest in disgruntled Sea Eagle Anthony Watmough for the first time amid growing speculation his next game could be in blue and gold.The development comes as Eels chief executive Scott Seward boldly predicted the resurgent club would win two premierships and be the country's pre-eminent sporting franchise by 2020.Watmough won't participate in Saturday night's sudden-death semi-final against Manly after accepting a one-match ban for a dangerous throw. Should the injury-ravaged Eagles bow out, he will not play again this year.Fairfax Media revealed the NSW and Australian backrower had agreed to a three-year deal with the Eels, which would start when his Eagles contract expired at the end of 2016. However, it's becoming more likely he will ask - and be granted - an early release to switch to the arch rivals at the completion of Manly's premiership campaign.The Eels have been tight-lipped about their interest in Watmough until Seward addressed the issue at the club's presentation evening at Le Montage on Tuesday night."If you read the papers, Anthony seems pretty happy at Manly. I don't think he's going anywhere too far," Seward said. "It's the kind of thing where if any club says they are not interested in someone of his talent, they're lying."From our perspective, if he's available - he's not available in 2015 at the moment - if he is available, we'd have a chat to him and add some talent to our squad."Watmough has a strong relationship with Parramatta coach Brad Arthur from their time together at Brookvale Oval. However, Arthur wouldn't be drawn on retention or recruitment matters."I don't comment about recruitment. Every club needs to strengthen and we'll go about our process with that," he said.After earning the wooden spoon in consecutive years, Parramatta finished 2014 in equal eighth spot, but was pipped for a finals place on for and against. Despite several years of instability on and off the field, Seward said the Eels would soon become the benchmark for all of its Australian sporting rivals."I would like to think we get to the year 2020 and everyone will be looking at the Parramatta Eels as the club in this country in any sporting code," Seward said."I would expect, and I wouldn't want to put any pressure on Brad or his team, that we will win two premierships in that period of time."I would expect that we will have 50,000 members and I expect we would have turned a club that's bled money and lost a lot of money for the last seven years into a profitable, self-sustaining football club."The Eels have added Beau Champion, Danny Wicks and Shannan McPherson to their squad for next year, but Watmough is viewed as the game changer. The veteran forward would add much-needed experience to a side whose average age and playing experience is just 24 and 70 NRL games respectively."I think there's more upside in our team than any other team in the competition," Arthur said. "We're going to make sure we show that next year."We got close, but close enough is not good enough any more here."
In Parra's sights: Anthony Watmough. Photo: Getty Images
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what a dope
Eels target Watmough, plus two premierships
typical Parra
STFU !!!!!! 2
how about , lets just start winning again and be a perennial semi final club
The GF's will then have a chance to take care of themselves as long as the right structures are in place - scouting, coaching, etc etc
Talk about getting the cart before the horse
and it's NO given - talk to Nth Sydney, Newtown, Wests, Cronulla Balmain pre 2005 - GF's are NOT a given, you need all the right things and a bit of luck as well for all the planets to deliver a GF
So far Parra has won 4 in nearly 70 (s e v e n t y) years
and scotty boy has guaranteed 2 in 5 years
STFU STFU STFU STFU - let's start with WINNING please scotty
Eels chief executive Scott Seward boldly predicted the resurgent club would win two premierships and be the country's pre-eminent sporting franchise by 2020.
Shut the F$CK UP scott - just let our FOOTY do all the talking please
do NYC and NSW cup premierships count?
I just busted my guts laughing with that anicdote
You cannot upset the football gods by making stupid predictions
Nailed It !!! gotta agree with with you on this one Fongy
exactly - just show me the footy - and STFU !!!!!!!!
Big talk from Scott, i personally think the time for big talk is long gone at parra, imo you have to earn the respect to make comments like those Scott.
I agree this year was a good year, Sharpie and BA have done a great job, good on Scott for the membership numbers and Scott you seem to be going ok mate, but buddy you have to understand us older eels fans have heard all this dribble before, i'm surprised the king of the dream land Timmy Mannah hasnt said all this again yet, Tim usually waits a few days after the seasons ended for us and starts spewing out this rainbow chasing shit year after year, its like the boy who cried wolf after a while., ( just jokin Timmy you legend, love your work )
But i like your big picture Scott, dont mind about winning one comp, lets talk about winning two lol.
MESSAGE FOR OUR CEO SCOTT SEWARD
SCOTT SEWARD, I'D LIKE YOU TO OFFICIALLY COME ON 1EE AND CONECT WITH US FANS, no ambush or anything, i'd say most here are happy with the job your doing, you really havnt been in the position long enough for us to have an educated decision, but lets just say our record with CEO's is not great as you know lol.
Come on and have maybe a good Q&A with us, im sure everybody here would appreciate that, we have been very impressed with Larissa coming on, what a great staff member we have there, the type we need to keep at the club, she deserves at least a 20% wage increase :)
We can talk about those 2 premierships ;)
We can talk about those 2 premierships ;)
as he brings his hand into clenched fist behind his back.....yeah, let's just talk
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